Take Fennaan to fulfil his promise
● Gosden’s colt can kick on in Kempton novice stakes after getting off the mark
John Gosden has made his usual good start to the season and his Fennaan looks a colt of immense promise ahead of his next outing at Kempton this evening.
Fifth of ten on his debut last September when he looked very green, he showed that experience had done him the world of good next time out at Newbury.
He was always just doing enough to hold off the favourite and while the winning distance was only a head, he won quite cosily in the end.
It takes a smart sort to concede a 7lb penalty in these races but Gosden was speaking of him in favourable terms after he got off the mark and has chosen the first division of the Racing Uk-sponsored novice stakes over seven furlongs for his next step.
Later on the card Silvestre de Sousa is a notable jockey booking by Ed de Giles for Bombero in the 32Red Casino Handicap.
A winner at Nottingham in August, he showed up well on his seasonal return at Doncaster when second in an apprentice handicap.
That outing on Town Moor was still just his seventh in all so there should be more to come, especially with the champion jockey on board for the first time off just 1lb higher.
Another lightly-raced type is Robert Stephens’ Castlelyons in the 32Red Handicap.
He signed off last year winning his final two races and after 130 days off he reappears off just 2lb higher than the second win, a race which has worked out well.
Michael Bell’s Geetanjali has a great chance of a hat-trick in the John Bolton Memorial Handicap at Lingfield.
She won off 54 at the end of last month by just a neck but followed up off 3lb higher at Chelmsford in more clear-cut fashion.
While there is a 6lb penalty to contend with this time Bell has found a very weak race and employed the services of useful claimer Cameron Noble to offset 5lb.
Peter Chapple-hyam’s Lubinka was sent off at 150-1 in the Fillies’ Mile but she was far from disgraced when sixth of 11, beaten a little over six lengths.
She could run a stone below that form and still win the 32Red Fillies’ Novice Median Auction Stakes.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Mont Des Avaloirs faces a much easier task than of late and should take some stopping in the Smarkets Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen.
Since winning at Aintree in December he has run in the Tolworth Hurdle when not disgraced behind subsequent Supreme winner Summerville Boy after which he was sent off favourite for the Dovecote at Kempton.
While no match for impressive winner Global Citizen there, he once again showed a decent level of ability when fourth of ten.
He may also have found the
0 John Gosden has a promising colt on his hands in Fennaan. ground a bit quick there and will be more at home with plenty of give underfoot.
Nicky Henderson had plenty of entries in the Smarkets Novices’ Hurdle so the fact he relies on The Bottom Bar could be notable.
He finished second on his first run for Henderson behind a nice prospect of Dan Skelton’s who was sent off favourite for the EBF Final at Sandown.
With nothing of that calibre lurking, this looks the perfect opportunity for a confidence boosting win.
Meanwhile, Leicester’s first Flat meeting of the season on Friday must survive a 7.45am inspection this morning.
Parts of the track are already waterlogged, which has resulted in false patches of ground. The going is already described as heavy and there has been a further 11 millimetres of rain overnight. With the forecast for the rest of the week unsettled, officials felt it prudent to take an early look.